Editor’s Comment

SYED SHAH – Managing Editor, Manufacturers’ Monthly Comment

Getting ahead of the game

IT looks like there has not been much support with the cash that has been injected to manufacturing. But the mindset seems to be right. Earlier this year, the federal government had announced a $3.4 million package over four years, supporting greater participation of women in STEM.

This included funding to extend the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative in higher education and research institutions and showcasing the benefits of STEM skills and careers to children to encourage more participation in STEM.

According to the government, it says that it wants to reduce the barriers preventing young Australians from accessing science. So, in addition to the STEM package, there was the additional $15.1m for Questacon to expand its successful programs to promote science to nurture the next generation of Australian scientists. This is in the hope of getting the younger generation to get used to the sector as Industry 4.0 gets a firmer foothold in.

Then there was the pilot of a national version of an initiative giving Australian university students and graduates the opportunity to apply their skills to real world problems and solve challenges that benefit local businesses. This would come in the form of a $3.6 million funding over two years that will deliver up to 15 Innovation Games each year, including in regional areas.

Other little goodies included the $19.5m national Space Infrastructure Fund launched to support Australia’s emerging domestic space industry.

Then came the $50 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund that returning prime minister, Scott Morrison, promised as part of his election campaign. That fund grants SMEs the ability to modernise quicker and scale up and invest in more Industry 4.0 capabilities, where needed. That $50 million will be reportedly further bolstered by $110 million in investments from private industries. More about this in our Issues & Insights section.

All these little goodies point to the fact that manufacturing and innovation are not forgotten. Still, there is a lot to be done by the industry.

And, Australia can be proud that every year, despite having not too much to go with, the manufacturing and technology sectors have managed to prove detractors, who claim that manufacturing is on the decline, wrong.

I have mentioned in my previous comments that Australia has experienced continued growth according to the Ai Group’s PMI index, staying above the 50 mark (an above 50 score indicates positive economic growth for the country) for over 36 months. Mark Goodsell, director of Ai Group said in his address during this year’s National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2019

that despite having the “odd off month” (which still hits above the 50-point PMI mark), the economy has had solid growth in this sector. When the automotive factories here folded up, there were a lot of concerns nationwide about jobs and the state of manufacturing in general. The response from the industry was one of resilience. It adapted and restructured. Goodsell said in his address that the food industry has now formed the “spine” of manufacturing in Australia.

Lastly, as a testament that the positive vibes in the sector has not died down, Manufacturers’ Monthly was at this year’s NMW 2019. Our team witnessed the long queues that started from as early as 8am in the morning and restless crowds raring to get in by the time the doors opened at 10am.

There was a lot of positive energy from both the exhibitors and attendees alike. Read all about it on the NMW Wrap Up section in this edition.